Do I need shoes?

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shadowboy

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I have a rising 5 New Forest who has been barefoot all his life. However farrier has just been after just over 8 weeks to rebalance his feet and there was nothing to take off- nothing at all just a rebalance on the inside of each hoof. I hack out for an hour once a week. I like to keep variation in his work so I don't want to stop hacking. Farrier (who I trust) feels that he feels stones when we hack because there is not enough hoof and suggested fronts. Has anyone else had to do this? He is on prohoof and horn is excellent quality but just not keeping up with wear. I know you can buy hoof boots but they are such a mine field for the correct shape that you need and not cheap if I get it wrong!!!
 
In the absence of anyone more knowledgeable I'll try and help.

No I don't think you need shoes. IMO if there was nothing to trim this suggests to me that the hoof wear and work ratio are well balanced, unless of course you feel there is too little hoof.

Do you think he feels the stones when you are hacking?

The Pro hoof is great but what else are you feeding him?

Is the grass growing where you are?

Sensitivity to stones is usually diet related. I know when I get the diet right for my girl, she tells me by stomping over everything.
 
Hi thanks for taking the time to reply. Yes he feels the stones. My OH's cob is also barefood and fine so I end up getting left behind as my boy picks his way round the worst bits! He's solid on Tarmac and grass and round gravel drives.

He is on soaked hay 4kg per night. And 1.5kg when turned out in the field unsoaked. (8am-6pm)

He gets 150grms dry weight fast fibre which has happy tummy charcoal, prohoof and yeasacc supplements. This is mixed with a handful of chaff. He gets this at half 6am no other feed is given.

The grass hasn't grown yet as gis at yard tell me he's stood waiting to come in by 3pm
 
How long has he been feeling stones for?

There is grass growing, he is eating it so you can't see it. It's also very short, growing in cold weather, very stressed and therefore very very high in sugar.

It is normal for hooves not to need trimming. The growth is simply matching the wear.

Is he worse after your farrier has "rebalanced" him? If his feet were very short how did he do this?

It is normal for working barefoot hooves to look as if they have almost no hoof wall, and none at the toe. Can you post some photos so we can see what you mean about "too short"?
 
cptrayes said:
How long has he been feeling stones for?

There is grass growing, he is eating it so you can't see it. It's also very short, growing in cold weather, very stressed and therefore very very high in sugar.

It is normal for hooves not to need trimming. The growth is simply matching the wear.

Is he worse after your farrier has "rebalanced" him? If his feet were very short how did he do this?

It is normal for working barefoot hooves to look as if they have almost no hoof wall, and none at the toe. Can you post some photos so we can see what you mean about "too short"?
Click to expand...

This ^^
 
I think you might need a fully paid up member of the BFT for this one. The diet looks good :-)

At 5 I'd guess he's safe from Cushings. What is his weight like? Do you have to work hard to keep him at a good weight? Could he have EMS?

Is your OH's cob on the same diet?
Is the chaff plain (no molassess)?
Does the chaff have any Alfalfa in it?

I know it is no help but this is exactly how my mare was last year. The little pointy stones really are the last piece of the puzzle for us too. Like you our grass isn't growing yet but I'm expecting problems when it does.
 
I will take photos tonight. Basically he files down the inside of the hinds as he tends to overwear the outer wall as the outerwall is very upright. None was actually taken off at all. He then rounded the toe at the front. He's been like this on stones ever since I started riding him as a 31/2 year old but now that he's older I'm riding more so I'm noticing the hacking on stones issue. Ill photograph the field too as its mainly moss! It's about a third of an acre- but I agree probably stressed. Will update later. Many thanks for the replies I am the most paranoid pony owner!!!!
 
image_zps4feef107.jpg
 
Hi OP.

Bearing in mind photos can be misleading - I can see a couple of reasons for your boy being footy.

It would appear that there is some central sulcus thrush, this can be really painful.
The sole is thin and flat, this is not normal or 'genetic'. Combined with stretched white line - indicates an issue.

When diet has been ruled out, and your horse's diet seems good, then you need to consider grass sensitivity and metabolic issues.
 
First, photos are deceptive and any of this could be wrong.

Those feet are not short, in fact compared to my boys they are long. They do not account for his sensitivity on stones.

His white lines do not look tight, and if you couple that with the fact that he has always been sensitive, then my guess would be that this is a diet issue and that he is far more sensitive to carbs/sugars than your cob is.

He also looks as if he has contracted heels and deep central sulcuses and frogs that are not working properly. This would happen if he has always had sensitive feet.

Is he better in midwinter than in spring and summer?
 
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J5X-fXNVSWE this is him walking- not best video as had to ask fellow livery to handle him. To be honest he's always had issues with stones no matter what time of year.

I asked farrier about thrush he said there wasn't any- I have ordered some cleanse anyway as it wouldn't do any harm. I ordered it Monday so fingers crossed it will arrive soon. So what so I so with him to help him?
 
In spite of his age I would test for Cushings and Insulin Resistance. I would try to find out if your hay and grazing are too high in stuff like manganese and iron or too low in copper and zinc, and if so supplement accordingly. I would test him by taking him off grass completely for a week and see if the increase in footiness that you are noticing reduces or disappears. I would also, meanwhile, use boots because it is not fair to him to ride him on stones if he is footie.

You have one of the difficult ones there, and I sympathise completely. No-one sensible would blame you if you decided to shoe.
 
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